Question
While our family has a very short experience of believing in one God, the Jewish nation has the history of 4000 years of monotheism from Abraham. Because of that, I feel I am lagging behind spiritually. I want to catch up the spiritual level of the Jewish people as soon as possible. Is there any faster way to be righteous and holy? Is there any shortcut for spiritual growth?

Question
Why is there a custom to blow the Shofar every morning during the month leading up to Rosh Hashana?

Question
What is the five branch menorah for? Where does it come from? What does it represent?

Question
Rabbi, is it easy being Jewish? I saw your Gateways Ask the Rabbi project on exhibit at the Deutsches Hygiene-Museum in Dresden, Germany. I never really had a chance to ask a rabbi this question before: Is it harder for someone like me, who didn’t grow up observant, than for someone for you who grew up keeping everything? Thanks!

Question
Hi. I have a wedding question. I was wondering if the practice for the groom to give a ring to the bride has always been the case. Does this tradition go back, say, as far as Abraham? And why is the wedding ring placed on the forefinger of the right hand?

Question
Hi Rabbi, this may seem like a strange question, but I’m looking for an idea of something to say to a Jewish kid in my school to encourage more study about Judaism. Thanks!

Question
Dear Rabbi, I recently hired a magician for my son’s birthday party only to be told by a well-meaning friend that doing magic tricks is questionable according to Judaism. Is this true?